Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-04-23
CONSUMPTION.
Experiments with the New Method OF
Treating the Terrible Disease.
TChioacn Trihunp1

Treating the Terrible Disease.
[Chisago Tribune.l
Last night at the request of North-side
physician, reporter attended at the corner
of Ogden and Fullerton avenues at the
treatment of patient for consumption by
the injection of gas. After the operation
was over, the physician stated to the re-
porter that, in the discussion of Professor
Bergeron's method of curing consumption,
il had been said that the substance used
was carbonic-acid gas, the latter being the
vehicle for conveying the sulphureted ny
drogen into the mucous system. It has
been stated that Professor Bergeron found
the injection of carbonic- acid gas had
very beneficial effect IN healing persons
affected with consumption and other lung
troubles. This statement is incor ect
Professor Bergeron claims that carbonic
acid passed through natural mineral waters
containing sulphureted hydrogen is. cure
for consumption. But he also admits that
in the sputum of patients which has become
| a mere mucous the bacilla tuberculosis
are found two years after the cure. The
Professor makes his carbonic acid gas in
| the usual way by pouring upon sodium
bicarbonate diluted sulphuric acid, which
| ne forces through the mineral waters of
| Faux Bonnes, taken from a spring $500
| feet above the sea, and situated in valley
| twenty miles from Pau. The waters con-
! tain. Is cubic inch of sulphureted hydrogen
| to the pint, two grains chloride of sodium
and two grains of other salts. These waters
do not contain enough sulphureted hydro
| gen to suit Professor Bergeron, and he has
| been seeking for waters more heavily
! charged. He also states that artifCially-
prepared sulpbureted hydrogen does not
| give beneficial results.
Prof Bergeron's method was introduced
| into the Cook County Hospital two months
ago. and in this treatment the Blue Lick
waters of Kentucky have been used. The
| lower Blue Lick contains 90 cubic inches
of sulphureted hydrogen to the pint. The
waters of the Alpena well (Alpena, Mich J
are said to contain AZ cubic inches to the
| pint, and arrangements are being made to
obtain a supply from this we'll. The first
patient was a Mexican woman no was in
the last stages of consumption. One iniec-
ton was made, and during the twenty-four
| hours following the treatment the expec-
| toration increased one-half-from sixteen
| to twenty-four ounces. There were no
| signs of improvement whatever, and the
patient died in seyenty-two hours after the
| first and only treatment she had received.
The second case was that of young Irish
man, who showed improvement after the
second treatment in the reduction of tenn
IL.
His appetite improved and the night-sweats
ceased. This improvement continued for
| five days, but was followed by sudden
change-loss of appetite, increased temper
j allure, respiration and expectoration, fol-
lowed by galloping consumption and death
| in thirteen days. The treatment was con-
| tinued in private practice with more favor
able results. Upon the first examination
OF one patient, q woman, the expectoration
amounted to ounces daily. The temper
ature was 1903, the respiration 80, and the
pulse 120. Night-sweats were profuse and
the cough incessant, keeping the patient
awake all night. She was unable to walk
without aid and yomited daily and her APP
petite was very poor. After the second
treatment the temperature was reduced to
100, and SO continued with but a slight
rise. The expectoration was not mt Re than
two tablespoonfuls, and the pulse was re-
duced to los. The night-sweats ceased en-
tirely, and the appetite improved. After
the sixth treatment the Temperature was
100, respiration %, and the pulse 100 The
expectoration was reduced to a slight mu-
cous only. The patient eats everything.
and the vomiting has ceased. The treat
ment has been continued for six weeks,
every other day, and the pulse is now So,
temperature 100, and sespiration %, and
there is every sign of improvement. In
several other cases there have been similar
favorable results, besides an increase in the
weight of the patient. In these cases the
physician in charge has not stopped the
usual remedies employed in consumption.
Cod-liver oil and phosphates have been
prescribed. The patients have in every in
stance been treated every other day The
best effect of the application of the treat
meut seemed to increase the coughing,
but this continued only for a short time.
The physician who is making the expert
ments thinks that even Bergeron's method
has not yet been proved to be a cure for
consumption. He believes that the discov-
cry Of cure is imminent, and that Ber-
geron has taken step in the right direc-
ton. He is watching the effect of the
treatment upon his patients with the
closest attention, and will make report
of his success.